I have been artistic my entire life. I still remember where my daycare provider kept the Play-Doh when I was three years old. I still remember how excited I was when I was allowed to play with it. When I was twelve I would create color studies with my pastels everywhere I went. In college I obtained an art minor, focusing on ceramics and art history. After college I was a computer programmer for eleven years. Then I became tired of the corporate world, so I moved from one side of my brain to the other. Life is too short to pursue what we are good at. We need to pursue what excites us. I am quite passionate about my art.

My passion for creating jewelry started with a trip to Morro Bay, California for a vacation. I walked into a bead store with the intention of making a beaded chain for my eyeglasses, but walked out of the store two hours later with my first bracelet and a head full of ideas.

I started reading every magazine on beaded jewelry that I could find. I stumbled upon Art Jewelry, which had an article on Precious Metal Clay (PMC). PMC is clay with fine silver in it. I can work with it like clay, and then fire it in my kiln to create fine silver pendants, earrings, etc. PMC gave me the ability to work with the clay that I had loved my whole life.

My two favorite techniques for working with PMC are water etching and taking impressions from plants. The water etching technique is done by painting a picture on the dried clay and using water to remove the negative space. Every piece is unique since they are made one at a time.

I studied how to fuse glass, to add my own glass to my jewelry. Through the learning of this process I found that I truly enjoy working with glass. The colors of the glass also brought the love of color that I had with my color studies during childhood. Kiln carving and slumping are two of the techniques that I employ the most. I now have my own line of both functional and non-functional fused glass separate from my jewelry line.

In June of 2007 I entered my first competition for my jewelry and fused glass. My necklace, Bamboo Serenity received first place, my plate, Mondrian received second place, and my ring, Bamboo Basket received third place.

I plan to continue to grow as an artist so that I may continue life as a full time artist.

When I was growing up, my grandmother would put "para Mique" (for Mique) on all of my presents. In honor of my grandmother, I have choosen this spelling of my name for my company. I hope you enjoy the treasures you will find within the pages of this website.